What does it mean to accept God’s Name? Many faiths tell us the Name is ours by birthright. Why then does it seem odd to assert direct lineage to God—and much more proper to honor our human parents?

“Because you offend those who don’t believe what you believe,” chides the human world. I see. So it’s good to name my human dad, but not my real father? By itself, belief in a creator is not a religion. But just imagine telling someone in the grocery store what your Father in heaven said to you last night. Once in a while I do this. My hope is that when I accept God’s Name as a normal, everyday thing for myself, so might others. Someone asked us to do this a while back. He didn’t seem too concerned about offending people.

“Do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.”Matthew 23:9